Europarådets pressekorrespondent i de nordiske lande Arne Madsen Bremerholm 6, 4., DK-1069 København K Tlf. +45 33 14 15 84, Fax +45 33 15 54 84, E-mail: [email protected], Internet: www.coe.int E-mail / FAX Til Redaktionen Dato: 5.ju  li 2005. Antal sider (inkl. denne): 1 Conference in Lisbon on the 20th anniversary of the Council of Europe Charter of Local Self-Government (8 July 2005) Strasbourg, 04.07.2005 – A conference in Lisbon on 8 July will mark the 20th anniversary   of the Charter of Local Self-Government. The event is being organised jointly by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, and the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities, with the support of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions. Attended by government ministers, locally elected politicians and experts from all over Europe, the conference will discuss a wide range of themes, including: “The Charter: an achievement for democratic stability in Europe?”,  “Member states’ commitments to local democracy: assessment of the 10 years of monitoring and interpretation of the Charter” and “The future of self  -government and local democracy in Europe: challenges to be overcome”. The conference, which will take place under the auspices of the Portuguese Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers (see press release 277a05), will be opened by José Socrates, the Portuguese Prime Minister, Giovanni Di Stasi, the President of the Congress of the Council of Europe, Joao Bosco Mota Amaral, former President and member of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal, on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and Fernando Ruas, President of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities. The conference will be open to the press (Friday 8 July, 9.30 am, Queda Room, Belém Cultural Centre, Lisbon). For a programme and more information on the conference and the Charter, please consult: http://www.coe.int/T/E/Clrae/10._Lisbon_Conference/ Press Contact Council of Europe Press Division Tel. +33 3 88 41 25 60  - Fax. +33 3 88 41 39 11 E-mail: [email protected]